City Home to connect Findlay Market, Washington Park

A partnership between Over-the-Rhine Community Housing, Eber Development, Schickel Design and 3CDC will bring 22 new homeownership units to the 1400 block of Pleasant Street in Over-the-Rhine.

Part of the third phase of the Gateway Quarter project, the $6.8 million City Home development is designed to turn Pleasant Street as an integrated walking and driving street that will connect Findlay Market and Washington Park.

Phase I of City Home began with the demolition of three dilapidated structures in July, and crews have begun to pour footings for five of the new townhomes.

Crews have also started interior demolition for six of the condominium units, which should be completed by February 2009.

At buildout, City Home will include:

• 12 single-family carriage homes
• 10 condominiums in four renovated historic buildings
• Nearly 1,600 square feet of retail space at 1401 Race Street

Prices will range from between the low $100,000s to more than $300,000, and pre-sales should begin by November.

Special financing will be offered on five of the units, making them affordable for residents who earn less than 60 to 80 percent of the region's median income, or $21,000 a year for an individual.

Phase II will begin in November and will include seven townhomes, four condominiums and the retail space, to be completed in fall 2009.

Martha Dorff of Schickel Design first pulled OTRCH and Eber together in 2005 to take advantage of the walkable character of the neighborhoods lesser streets served by alleys.

"City Home takes advantage of the historic infrastructure," she says.  "Streets like Pleasant Street and Republic Street are not drive-through streets, but are for the residents and businesses located there.  For sustainability, the use of this infrastructure is really a key thing."

Eventually, redevelopment could extend all the way from Findlay Market to Washington Park.

"The connection of Over-the-Rhine's historic fabric is really fostered by this project," Dorff says.  "I see it as a collaboration with our ancestors.  They started it, and we're finishing it."

Writer: Kevin LeMaster
Source: Martha Dorff, Schickel Design

Photography by Kevin LeMaster